The Secretariat of the IOSEA-MoU & Marine Research Centre concluded a workshop to set up a Marine Turtle Task Force for the Northern Indian Ocean subregion of IOSEA-MoU framework. The workshop which took place from 11-12 October 2015, at Malé was attended by National Focal Points of signatory states; Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives with non-governmental organizations. The workshop reviewed threats to marine turtles and their habitats in the subregion, subsequently identifying a range of priority actions for the Task Force. These include actions to address direct take of marine turtles and their eggs, bycatch in fisheries, ghost gear issues, impacts from coastal development, ecotourism best practice guidelines and climate change impacts. The Task Force was established and the TOR for the Task Force was agreed at the workshop. Dakshin Foundation, an NGO from India and National Focal Point from the Government of the Maldives were elected as chairs and vice-chairs of the Task Force respectively. The workshop was sponsored by Humane Society International, UNDP-Low Emission Climate Resilient Development and UNDP- Mangroves for the Future – Maldives and the Maldives Seafood Processors and Exporters Association.

The Task Force will serve to improve dynamism and coordination within the subregion and is committed to address both country-specific and broader regional issues within Northern Indian Ocean subregion.

The workshop concluded with a statement issued by the country delegates and represenatives from NGOs and scientific institutions, acknowleding the threats to marine turtles in the subregion, reconfirming their commitment to protect marine turtles and agreeing to implement the joint work programme of the Task Force. To view the full statement, please visit the link below:

As part of the workshop program, a reception dinner was hosted by Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture on 11th to welcome the participants to the Maldives at Hotel Jen, Malé. During the reception dinner, a fundraising activity was also held to support marine conservation efforts in the Maldives. The business community was invited to support the conservation of marine turtles and other marine fauna. A total of USD 182,985.08 was raised. The funds would be utilized to support the marine conservation efforts of Marine Research Centre specifically in the following areas:

Supporting nationwide campaigns on addressing threats to marine turtles particularly the direct take of marine turtles and their eggs

Involvement of NGOs in outreach programs on threats to marine turtles, sharks and on sustainable utilization of our fish stocks

Engagement of local communities in marine turtle conservation work particularly in the monitoring of nesting occurrences from at least five islands identified as significant nesting sites for marine turtles

Inclusion of two sites identified as the most significant sites for marine turtles in terms of nesting and foraging in the “IOSEA Network of Sites of Importance for Marine Turtles”

Strengthen monitoring programs to understand the population trends for threatened species such as turtles, sharks, groupers and other important reef fish species as well as on coral reef conservation

For sustainable utilization of marine resources in the fisheries and advocating best practices in fisheries

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About MRC

The Marine Research Centre (MRC) of the Maldives, founded in 1984, is the research arm of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (MoFA). MRC is mandated to undertake research on living marine resources and to provide scientific advice on marine resource management and on the state of the marine environment.